If you’re ever in Kota Kinabalu on a Sunday morning, you can’t afford to miss the Gaya Street Sunday Market. This lively market in the heart of the city turns Gaya Street into a colorful, fragrant, and friendly place where you can soak in the local vibe. The weekly market has been around for decades, and although you’ll see some tourists, it’s mainly a spot for the locals. You’ll find just about everything here — from handmade souvenirs, traditional batik fabrics, and elegant beaded items to antiques, home decor, and even exotic plants.
Hundreds of stalls
What stood out most was the number of stalls selling (often the same) souvenirs. A lot of stalls had identical items — think fridge magnets with ‘I Love Sabah’, pens, hair clips, stickers, keychains, and a whole range of other little things. Obviously, the kids loved it!
There were also stalls selling household products, tons of clothing (some of it quite nice-looking, though probably all knockoffs judging by the prices), and even aquarium equipment (yep — including tropical fish!). You’ll also find sunglasses, plants (we saw a whole stall just for cacti), fruits, batik sarongs, toys (including stuffed animals), jewelry, caps, ointments, handmade bracelets, artwork, shoes (like the iconic Kampung Adidas), bags, and so much more. Basically, all the classic market stuff — and plenty of fun knick-knacks.
Also amusing were the stalls with just a single household product — like a super-sharp knife or an onion cutter that claims to slice onions faster than fast. A crowd usually gathers to watch the demo.
What also stood out were the low prices. For example, a cute fridge magnet cost RM5, and a nice quality keychain was also RM5. Most stalls had clear price signs (fixed prices), though you can still try to bargain — especially if you’re buying several things at once.
It takes around an hour to wander through the entire market at a relaxed pace. After that, you can check out the little side streets off Gaya Street — sometimes there are extra stalls tucked away there too.
Great food
The Gaya Street Sunday Market is also a treat for food lovers, although food isn’t really the main focus on Sunday mornings. If you’re looking for a proper Pasar Malam, check out the Api Api Night Market at the same location on Friday and Saturday evenings.
On Sundays, locals usually head to the restaurants along Gaya Street for breakfast or an early lunch. When we were there, almost every place had a queue, and by 11 a.m., the restaurants were completely packed.
The food stalls at the market mostly sell local snacks (especially sweet ones), like kuih, prawn crackers, and filled cakes. You’ll also see a few stalls selling fresh fruit, including the ever-popular durian. Some stalls sell single-serving packets of nasi lemak — perfect for takeaway and surprisingly cheap (RM8).
How to get there?
Grab is the easiest way — it’ll drop you right in front of the entrance. You can also use Grab to head back to your hotel afterwards. Most locals either walk or drive themselves. Traffic is usually light on Sunday mornings, so getting there isn’t a problem.
Tips
- Come early! The market starts at 6 a.m. and gets pretty busy by mid-morning.
- Bring cash. Most stalls don’t accept debit cards, so having small change comes in handy.
- Wear light clothing. The tropical heat can be intense, so wear something light — and don’t forget your sunscreen.
- Negotiate in a friendly manner. Haggling is part of the fun, but keep it friendly.
- If you’re visiting the morning market with kids, they’ll have a great time. Prices are super low, and the quality is surprisingly good. We gave each of them RM20, and they ended up buying a few nice things.
- Towards the end of Gaya Street, along Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, you’ll come across a closed Maybank branch that once went viral on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu. It’s kind of funny to see locals taking selfies there, at this seemingly uninteresting location.
Suggestions?
Got any good tips to share with us? Do you know of any great things to do in Sabah, or tips on the best places to eat? Let us know by leaving a reply below!